Submitted by crinadmin on
Almost five years after being taken into custody by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Canadian citizen Omar Khadr was charged for the second time on 24 April 2007 with five counts including conspiracy, murder and supplying material support to terrorism. He was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offences, making him the first child combatant ever to be brought before a court for alleged “war crimes”.
Although the charges were initially dismissed by the military commission judge in early June, the US government successfully appealed that decision. Military commission hearings resumed on 8 November 2007. Omar Khadr cannot receive a fair trial through the seriously flawed military commissions set up in Guantánamo Bay. Amnesty International is further concerned that Omar Khadr was granted none of the special protections for juveniles under international law and that his human rights continue to be denied. Other governments worked to protect the rights of their citizens in Guantánamo Bay. But Canada has remained silent. Read more here. Further information